Backhendl

Name: Backhendl
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Austrian
Ingredients: 2 lb boneless chicken thighs, pounded thin; 1 lemon lemon, juiced; 1 tsp kosher salt; 1/2 tsp ground black pepper; 1/2 cup all-purpose flour; 2 large eggs, beaten; 1 cup dry breadcrumbs; 1/2 cup lard

Backhendl is the Viennese fried chicken, with lemon-seasoned chicken breaded in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs and pan-fried in lard. It is a classic tavern dish, usually served with potato salad.

45 minEasyServes 4520 cal/serving

AustrianDinnerStovetopStandard

Cook this free in the appFree. No download, no account. The screen stays awake and each step can run its own timer.

Ingredients

2 lb boneless chicken thighs, pounded thin
1 lemon lemon, juiced
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs, beaten
1 cup dry breadcrumbs
1/2 cup lard

Instructions

1

Season 2 lb pounded thin boneless chicken thighs on both sides with 1 tsp kosher salt and 1/2 tsp ground black pepper. Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon lemon over the top and let stand 10 minutes.
2

Set up three shallow dishes with 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 2 beaten large eggs, and 1 cup dry breadcrumbs.
3

Dredge each piece of boneless chicken thighs in 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, dip it in the large eggs, then press it firmly into 1 cup dry breadcrumbs until fully coated.
4

Melt 1/2 cup lard in a large skillet over medium heat. Use a thin layer, about 1/8 inch deep, and add more as needed.
5

Fry the boneless chicken thighs 3 to 4 minutes per side, until deep golden brown. Work in batches so the pan is not crowded.
6

Check the thickest piece of boneless chicken thighs with an instant-read thermometer. It should read 165°F before you remove it.
7

Drain the pieces on paper towels and sprinkle lightly with 1 tsp kosher salt. Serve hot with potato salad.

Cook this free in the appCooking it now? The app keeps the screen awake and times each step. Free, nothing to install.

Keep this recipe

Prints the ingredients and method only.

Questions

What is Backhendl?

Backhendl is the Viennese fried chicken, with lemon-seasoned chicken breaded in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs and pan-fried in lard. It is a classic tavern dish, usually served with potato salad. This reference files it under Austrian dinner: made on the stovetop, rated easy and about 45 minutes start to finish.

What temperature does Backhendl cook at?

Step 6 reads: "It should read 165°F before you remove it." That is about 75 C.

Can I use chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs in Backhendl?

Yes, with care. Breasts dry out sooner: pull them at 165 F, which usually means a few minutes less than the thighs would take. As written, the entry for Backhendl uses 2 lb boneless chicken thighs, pounded thin.

Can I make Backhendl gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in Backhendl is 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup dry breadcrumbs. Swap the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend (where it only thickens a sauce, half as much cornstarch also works); the bread or crumbs for a gluten-free loaf or gluten-free panko. Everything else proceeds as written.

Does Backhendl contain eggs?

Yes: 2 large eggs, beaten. The full allergen list for this entry is gluten and eggs. Packaged ingredients vary by brand, so check labels if the allergy is serious.

How long does Backhendl keep?

Refrigerate what is left of Backhendl within two hours and eat it within three days. Reheat uncovered in a 400 F oven (or an air fryer) for a few minutes to bring the crust back; the microwave softens it.

Serve it with

Cook this free in the app

Textual Chef is 4,695 plain-text recipes, free to read and free to cook from. No account, no paywall, no ads, no life stories. Open this one in the app and each quantity sits inside the step that uses it, so you read once and cook.

Every recipe is curated or public-domain sourced, written to one template and checked before it publishes. Nothing here is a scraped blog post.

Cook this free in the appNo download needed. It opens in your browser. The kitchen tools (planner, shopping list, pantry, import) are $5.33 a month billed annually; the first 30 days are free.